School update

Hello everyone!

Just thought I'd give you an update on how I am fairing at daycare, which mommy calls "my school".

When I was warned that I would get sick more often, I laughed it off and said I'm ready! I've had a cold for the past 2 weeks! Oh these babies and their snot sharing!

I have 3 ladies that take care of me in the room: Shelby, Betty and Mila.They tell mommy and daddy that I am adjusting well! Napping still seems to be my greatest issue, if only because I'm sick and I keep coughing myself awake. This past Friday, Mommy finally was able to pick me up.

When Mommy got there I was the last kid there. Mommy was thinking "What kind of job do these parents have that can pick kids up early!". Oh well, I was happy that I got some quiet time with my School ladies.

Betty and Mila told mommy that I had my best day there yet! Betty said that I seemed to be interested in this toddler car thing that you walk in. So she had put me in and I was tooting all over the pace happy that I was able to move by myself, well as by myself as being in a car could let me. I was the most vocal they have seen  me yet. Mommy wasn't sure what that meant as I am usually sounding up a storm. She's hoping I start my vowels and consonants soon!

The ladies told mommy they were impressed that I clean up my toys after myself. Mommy said that she is making sure she teaches me young so I won't be like daddy! Mila said that she usually does not like carrying kids around because she has a bad back, but she loves carrying me everywhere just to touch my hair and talk to me!

My days with Grandma are quiet and are a nice break from the commotion at school. Grandma has been teaching me to get down using my knees. So instead of flopping back down on my bum I now fall down on my knees. I now am frequently seen with bruises on my knees, but at least it's a safer way to get down. I just don't seem to get "squatting" yet.

Mike and Bev Moorhouse surprised me last weekend with a sand turtle! I am excited for daddy to put it together so I can finally try it out! Pictures will follow in a later post.

I got my second hair cut tonight! Check me out!

On the medical side of things there's not too much to report. My cold has made it difficult for me to drink my sippys, but I hear this happens to the "normals" too.  However, I'm being judged for weight every 3 weeks, so there's some added pressure for me to keep eating. I report to my pediatrician in a couple of weeks for my 16 month check up. Should be fun!

Day Care = Torture Chamber?

A few weeks ago I, Ethan's mommy was offered a job. It just happened to be the same day the second daycare called and asked if we still needed a spot. And that's where Ethan's new adventure began!

 A few Friday's ago Mommy and Daddy took me on a tour of this place called Day Care. They told me that I would be shipped here three times a week. I didn't know what it was supposed to be, but it looked like it moonlights as a torture chamber. I could tell mommy was unsure of this place. It looked a wee bit intimidating!

My cellmates are 18m-3 years. However most of them are on the upper scale as not many new toddlers get placed. If you've done your math, you will say "Hang on a moment! Ethan is 15 months!" So, not only am I starting 3 months early, I am also delayed in my gross motor skills by about 4 months.

When we went on our tour I saw things that I forever want to unsee! My cellmates are monsterous! They were all running around with a full set of sharp teeth, yelling in some foreign language that only they can understand. If it wasn't for the over taking fear of these cellmates I would have been more scared for seeing what was outside. A giant concrete slab! I can just feel the concrete rip my bum and feet while I bum scoot during the 1 HOUR we have to be outside. ME Ethan... OUTSIDE... The outside, where there is sun, heat, concrete, grass... everything that I hate in this world! That's what I thought, until we had a tour of "the kitchen". This is were the cellmates go to eat. THIS is where the torture happens... I just know it.

In this "kitchen" the monsters eat around a table on CHAIRS! Mommy asked if they had highchairs and the lady just started at her like mommy had just said a bad word.... YIKES! I guess not.
I was shown the food menu.  Cesar salad, Felafel, pasta salad, Ham, RAW vegetables... What are these people cannibals! RAW vegetables... seriously! Even if I do decide by some complete wave of insanity put these things in my mouth, how am I supposed to chew these things with 5 teeth?

And then that was that. Mommy made arrangements for my Grandma to look after me the other 2 days. And with the understanding that if I regressed by ANY measure, Mommy agreed to try me out at this place.

Mommy ordered me a school backpack

I started last Monday.

Ethan and Mommy's first day of Daycare and Work

Mommy has been training all week so she has been unable to drop me off or pick me up at daycare, my care has been left with Daddy. Daddy really had to step up to the plate this week! He's had to get me ready each morning and pick me up in the evening. We've been lucky that this daycare lets me stay til 6pm! I bring my own snacks and sippys each day.. as you know I have a hate on with food.

So far Daddy has been informed that I have been transitioning well. However, no one has asked me so I don't know how I feel about it all yet! So far the only hard transition has been napping. The naps happen on COTS! Yes, COTS! No cribs.... I have been doing my best, however so far the days at daycare I've only been able to sleep for an hour. You would think that by the time I get home that I would be exhausted, but NOPE I am so excited to share with Mommy and Daddy about daycare that I end up wired! I just wait for the next day when it's Grandma time and I catch up on my sleep!

 In addition to my new Day Care adventures. I learned my first "sign" last Tuesday.  If you remember way back when when mommy was trying to teach me the sign for "more" and "book", then she gave up doing it all the time because I just didn't seem to get it. Well I now sign "more". Well, close enough. I tap my palm for more!

What else... Mommy had been teaching me how to climb up the stairs. So now I can do it, with help of course, I'm not that strong yet in my legs to push myself up yet. But once my legs get stronger I have the basics to climb right up the stairs!

The last bit of information is that I was weighed at the clinic on Friday. Daddy and I went to see my dietician, Lynn at the hospital. I was weighed in at 20lbs 8oz. Which is a 2 oz increase from 3 weeks ago.  Lynn is happy with my weight progress considering my increase of physical activity. I am sitting at the 5th percentile for weight. Lynn gave Daddy some measurement guides for how much food a 1-3 year old should be taking and it's scarey! These babies must be eating all the time.

14 month Assessment

Hello All,

Ethan here!

Friday the 13th marked the day of my 14 month assessment.  Dave, our friend from infant and child development joined us for some one on one play time to see what I was getting up to these days.  Dave is a nice man who carries a HUGE sack of toys, kind of like Santa Clause, only with more educational value and less white beard.  The assessment took about forty-five minutes and we played with blocks, pegs, crayons, balls, and I especially took new interest in banging on a cymbal.  No I'm not going to turn around and be Mozart tomorrow but I can see I like to hear things make noise!   On the other hand, we also discovered that I have no love for crayons.  I mean none!  Let's hope I change my mind soon as I think Mommy fancies me to be quite the little artist!

The assessment went well in all areas with the exception of my speech and gross motor skills.  Checkout my scorecard! The dots in the white area indicate areas in which I'm exhibiting normal development.  The ones in the black area show were I need a lot of work.  Anything in the shaded middle would be an area that's on the fringe.  Darn that gross motor skills mark!  My communication is very good from a receptive point of view but since I'm not actively using any words yet I'm not scoring as high as I could otherwise.











In other news, Mommy enjoyed a visit with uncle Jay and uncle Jan this week.  She dropped me off with Grandma and Grandpa Philp and drove on down to Brantford.  While she was away, Grandma played in the pool with me for a whole hour!  I'm getting really good at hurling myself off the sides of the pool into Grandma's arms!  After some pool time, a long nap, and some "let's make a mess of the living room floor" time, I was ready to go home.  Oh No! Mommy's not back from Brantford and she has my car seat!!

In a quick pinch, Daddy was able to swing by after work with the JEEP!  There was a big boy seat that has been waiting for a big boy to use it at Grandma and Grandpees house.   Daddy and Grandpa worked together to install it the back and voila! I was ready for the open road, the wind in my hair and the sun on my face!

No roof, no doors, no problem! I love riding in the Jeep!

Daddy was nice and kept me off the highway and at the end of the journey we made it home safe and sound!

Kate's Kause Playground

This is a post to let everyone know that once in a while I do have a bit of Infant Fun!

Today Mommy, Me, Sarah and Theo went to a new playground that just opened in Elmira. It's called Kate's Kause Playground. It was built with the idea of being assessable and inclusive.

"Kate’s Kause is an organization inspired by Kate Meissner, a sweet little two-year-old from Elmira who has Angelman Syndrome. It is a 100% charitable organization committed to Angelman Syndrome awareness and fundraising for inclusive community projects. For a full year now, they’ve been raising money to build a playground in Elmira that is entertaining and accessible for children of all abilities. Elmira doesn’t currently have any facilities for disabled children to use, and parents of disabled children must drive to Guelph just to be able to let their children use a swing or experience a slide without it affecting their hearing equipment or other medical peripherals.

It is because of this little girl that I can play at this awesome playground! And what fun we had!